faith . hope . home . love

17 Things I Learned the Summer of ’17

This time next week I’ll be wrapping up another trip to Nashville. Have you ever been? It’s pretty cool and it’s become an annual pilgrimage for us {you can read about some favorite spots and trip dos and don’ts here and here} I’m equally parts excited and queasy as per usual. It seems surreal since we first started planning to attend this music conference in January and now I feel like I barely turned around good and it’s September!

And because I apparently love to schedule everything at once, it also falls one week before our next vintage show… nothing like a tight deadline and impending trip to make one question their sanity.

Being on the hunt all summer for merchandise and on the hook to repurpose, clean and create has left little time to write {and I’ve missed y’all!!} but I felt the pull to pop in and share a few truths and treasures I’ve discovered this summer.

Some silly and some serious… but this is how life is. A delicate dance between the insane and the inspiring.

Without further ado, here we go!

1. Our lives don’t have to be all or nothing. If you, like me, are tempted to berate yourself when you fail to be consistent or achieve your goals, realize this: just being a little better than the day before is still a win.

3. And speaking of good habits, here’s one to start: the art of preparing ahead. {it’s kinda rocking my world…} It could be making lunches the night before, setting out materials the morning of for a project, figuring out what to wear {or pack waaaay before the morning you leave on a trip…trust me on this one…}, or updating our calendar consistently but the payoff we feel after being proactive is exponential. My friend and I even exercised this skill in prepping for the show and playing with booth layout for 9/30.{it just might actually all fit…}

4. Naps are our friends. I’m sorry it took so long to learn this.

5. How to raise kittens. Well, their mama raised them, we just fostered them. It’s not for the faint of heart and though you say you will not be attached, it’s a lie. They grow on you… like a furry fungus.

6. We always have a choice. We choose anger or we choose love. Feelings are sneaky, but actions– what we do and what we say is our choice.

7. Old photos on display = happiness.

8. How to modge -podge chairs (or how to hodge podge it as the husband calls it…)

9. How NOT to make chalk paint with plaster of paris…refer to the modge-podging above which may or may not have been used to soften that blow…

10. It’s ok to drive a mini-van even if you’re not a soccer mom or don’t have little kids… here’s your permission, you’re welcome. {Is it sad to say a 10 year old van is the nicest thing I’ve driven in 7 years…? And just think of the treasures I can fit in it!!}

11. Scrolling Facebook is draining. Sometimes we need to keep in touch but if we’re looking for more life giving amusements– music, writing, crafting and yes, sometimes cleaning are way more beneficial…

12. What to do when you encounter a box full of vintage Christmas light bulbs at an estate sale…

13. Cats can fit in baby clothes size 0-3… which cracks me up and makes me wish I had known this 2 years ago!

Hi Heather,
I’m laughing about you driving a minivan, but if anyone can rock it, you can!! 🙂 What a fun list! I love the kitschy Santa too! I can heartily concur that scrolling social media can be life-draining and discouraging but I’ve found some ex-pats in Rome on Instagram and I heartily enjoy their stories, so I think I just need to follow people who spark my creativity and let me tag along with them! 🙂

I’m so excited about your vintage show and I love seeing all the things you’re gathering and making! I can’t wait to hear about Nashville, too! So good to have a post from you! xoxo

So glad to be of amusement! 🙂 And thanks for the encouragement- I’m still mulling over how to tweak it to fit me! Lol! As I started looking through my pics – (after our texts!) I realized maybe I had a little story to tell with what was happening right here and now… so many thanks for your inspiration! More to come hopefully! Hope things are getting back to normal in your neighborhood after the storms! ❤️xx

Good morning, Heather! I found my head bobbing up and down, resonating left and right with your observations … especially 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15, 17. So good to wrap up the final days of summer (sigh) with you here today!

LOL Linda! Glad to have a kindred in you! It was so fun to make a list– I may have to make it a staple every so often. I have missed following along with you lovely lady! Hope you had a beautiful summer! ♥

Oh my goodness Heather – best list ever. A huge YES !!!! to all of it ( don’t have cats but do have every other animal under the sun it seems). Kindred spirits as Anne would say. Love those chairs with the map print on and all your treasures and stall layout looks soooo pretty and inviting . I want to be there. Nashville!!! Go you – enjoy every moment and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for your market stall. Xxx

Hello dear Tracey! Just got back from Nashville Friday and am finishing preparations for the market! Eek!! (also starting to get a bit nervous as usual!) I cherish your prayers and will take lots of pics so you can shop vicariously 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comments as always! xox